A breathtaking journey marrying a slave girl's escape in the 1800s with a young lawyer's present-day discoveries. A hidden room, a box of photographs, a hunt through Boston's streets and alleyways... Rooster Street is a story on multiple levels of discrimination, abandonment and violence; fortitude, love, and final celebration.
When Jennifer Pryor’s grandmother dies, leaving a box full of history specifically addressed to Jen, she is baffled when tying up the estate of the Brooks . At the same time Jen, whose law firm is tying up the Brooks estate, an historic home on Cape Cod, finds another carefully , also filled with memorabilia and photographs… including an identical one in both boxes. The mystery deepens with the discovery of a hidden room, and a carved trunk Along with Noah, the town’s historian, Jen goes on a hunt in Boston for the mysterious Rooster Street.
Her tale is cleverly interwoven with that of Althea Kieron, in the mid-1850s. Born on a plantation in South Carolina, of a white master and his black slave, Althea is beautiful, intelligent, and has a clear destiny to fulfill. In love with the new master’s son Jonathan, the two make a daring escape plan for her on the Underground Railroad. Terrified but with utter faith in her Jonny, she follows instructions, being passed from one stop to another, always in danger, with a terrible climax. Her future turns out completely differently than they had planned, but her courage brings her to play a role in the education of future generations of children of all colors.
As long-hidden secrets are brought to light, with severe shocks along the way, Althea’s life story and Jenny Pryor’s 150 years later form a rich tapestry, while slowly all the puzzle pieces linking the present to the past fall into place. Jennifer’s search for answers lead her to the discovery of her mother, her family, and her own roots – as well as to an unexpected love of her own.
Janet Purcell is a professional artist. She writes a weekly fine arts column and
feature articles for The Times of Trenton (NJ). Her interior design features appear
regularly in DesignNJ magazine. Her articles have appeared in Woman’s Day
Special Interest Publications, Bridal Guide, American Spa, and many other
magazines and travel guides. Her travel stories have often been published in the New York Post, Country Discoveries, and in Princeton, New Jersey’s Packet
Publications’ community newspapers.
Her previous novels, Singer Lane and The Long Way Home, were published in 2008 and 2015 respectively. Though not a trilogy, many of the same characters are found continuing their lives in each of the three books.
Her paintings can be seen at www.janpurcellart.com
When Jennifer Pryor’s grandmother dies, leaving a box full of history specifically addressed to Jen, she is baffled when tying up the estate of the Brooks . At the same time Jen, whose law firm is tying up the Brooks estate, an historic home on Cape Cod, finds another carefully , also filled with memorabilia and photographs… including an identical one in both boxes. The mystery deepens with the discovery of a hidden room, and a carved trunk Along with Noah, the town’s historian, Jen goes on a hunt in Boston for the mysterious Rooster Street.
Her tale is cleverly interwoven with that of Althea Kieron, in the mid-1850s. Born on a plantation in South Carolina, of a white master and his black slave, Althea is beautiful, intelligent, and has a clear destiny to fulfill. In love with the new master’s son Jonathan, the two make a daring escape plan for her on the Underground Railroad. Terrified but with utter faith in her Jonny, she follows instructions, being passed from one stop to another, always in danger, with a terrible climax. Her future turns out completely differently than they had planned, but her courage brings her to play a role in the education of future generations of children of all colors.
As long-hidden secrets are brought to light, with severe shocks along the way, Althea’s life story and Jenny Pryor’s 150 years later form a rich tapestry, while slowly all the puzzle pieces linking the present to the past fall into place. Jennifer’s search for answers lead her to the discovery of her mother, her family, and her own roots – as well as to an unexpected love of her own.
Janet Purcell is a professional artist. She writes a weekly fine arts column and
feature articles for The Times of Trenton (NJ). Her interior design features appear
regularly in DesignNJ magazine. Her articles have appeared in Woman’s Day
Special Interest Publications, Bridal Guide, American Spa, and many other
magazines and travel guides. Her travel stories have often been published in the New York Post, Country Discoveries, and in Princeton, New Jersey’s Packet
Publications’ community newspapers.
Her previous novels, Singer Lane and The Long Way Home, were published in 2008 and 2015 respectively. Though not a trilogy, many of the same characters are found continuing their lives in each of the three books.
Her paintings can be seen at www.janpurcellart.com
